Wallace Gendron papers, 1941-1945

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gendron, Wallace
Title
Wallace Gendron papers
Dates
1941-1945 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.0 linear feet, (8 boxes)
Collection Number
WCMss.035
Summary
Aerial photographs depicting Allied operations in Europe during World War II and personal memorabilia collected by Wallace Gendron. Correspondence and photos of Walla Walla Air Base.
Repository
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Born March 4, 1923 in Berlin, N.H., Mr. Gendron served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He moved to Portland, OR after the war and was a salesman and manager for several companies. He married Alicia Frances Niebergall, a native of Walla Walla whom he met while stationed at Walla Walla Air Base, in 1945. He died June 19, 2001.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of World War II (1941-45) era, featuring aftermath photographs of bombing raids carried out by Army Air Force pilots. Gendron, an Army Air Force photographer, would follow up on bombing raids, showing the results of air attacks on German targets. Personal memorabilia collected by Gendron during his three years of service, including a survival kit issued to soldiers in the event they are captured. Also includes orrespondence and photographs of Walla Walla Air Base.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated to Whitman College Archives and Special Collections by Wallace Gendron between 1989 and 1991. The accession number is retro-0093.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1:  Photographs of damage to German towns, factories, and other military targets during World War II, 1941-1945Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Altenbeken Viaduct (1 photo)
Undated
1 2
Amberg Ord. Depot (2 photos)
Undated
1 3
Arnsberg (4 photos)
Undated
1 4
Aschaffenburg (9)
Undated
1 5
Aschenslenben (8)
Undated
1 6
Banburg R.R (1)
Undated
1 7
Bayreuth (1)
Undated
1 8
Bernburg (6)
Undated
1 9
Bielefeld (2)
Undated
1 10
Bingen (3)
Undated
1 11
Boblingen (3)
Undated
1 12
Bochum (4)
Undated
1 13
Bottrop Oil (5)
Undated
1 14
Bremen (6)
Undated
1 15
Brunswick (5)
Undated
1 16
Clausthal-Zellerfeld (2)
Undated
1 17
Cologne/Gremburg (5)
Undated
1 18
Cologne Cathedral (3)
Undated
1 19
Dortmund Coke (7)
Undated
1 20
Dulman G.A.F. Fuel (1)
Undated
1 21
Dulmen (1)
Undated
1 22
Eipzig (1)
Undated
1 23
Eisenach (1)
Undated
1 24
Erfurt Bindersleben (4)
Undated
1 25
Emmenich Oil (2)
Undated
1 26
Erfurt/Nord (1)
Undated
1 27
Erfurt Radar Inst. (2)
Undated
1 28
Eschwege (3)
Undated
1 29
Fallersleben (4)
Undated
1 30
Flak Bat. (1)
Undated
1 31
Frankfurt (1)
Undated
1 32
Friedrichshafen (1)
Undated
1 33
Fulda (5)
Undated
1 34
Furth (3)
Undated
1 35
Gaggenan (3)
Undated
1 36
Gardelegen (6)
Undated
1 37
Gelsenkirchen Oil (4)
Undated
1 38
Gera (6)
Undated
1 39
German Farm House (1)
Undated
1 40
Giebelstadt (2)
Undated
1 41
Giessen (2)
Undated
1 42
Gotha (15)
Undated
1 43
Gottingen (6)
Undated
1 44
Gutersloh (2)
Undated
1 45
Guttingen (1)
Undated
1 46
Halberstadt (10)
Undated
1 47
Halle (4)
Undated
1 48
Hallendorf (3)
Undated
1 49
Hamburg (20)
Undated
1 50
Hamm (4)
Undated
1 51
Hambur Deutsche Petrol (3)
Undated
1 52
Hanau (2)
Undated
1 53
Hanau Dunlop (1)
Undated
1 54
Hanau Henaeus (1)
Undated
1 55
Hanover [Hannover] (1)
Undated
1 56
Hanburg (6)
Undated
1 57
Hanburg Oil (8)
Undated
1 58
Hemmingstedt Oil (4)
Undated
1 59
Hildesheim (3)
Undated
1 60
Hitzacker Oil (3)
Undated
1 61
Hopsten (1)
Undated
1 62
Ijmuiden (2)
Undated
1 63
Jena-Carl Ziess (2)
Undated
1 64
Kaiserslautern (3)
Undated
1 65
Karlsruhe (8)
Undated
1 66
Kassel Altenbuata Areo Eng. (2)
Undated
1 67
Kassel Henschel Works (1)
Undated
1 68
Kassel Loco-Works (4)
Undated
1 69
Kassel RR Shops (3)
Undated
1 70
Kassel RR Station (1)
Undated
1 71
Kassel Walpau Fighter Assem (1)
Undated
1 72
Kaiserslautern (4)
Undated
1 73
Kiel (6)
Undated
1 74
Kitzingen (3)
Undated
1 75
Koblenz Mosel (10)
Undated
1 76
Kothen (6)
Undated
1 77
Kriensen (1)
Undated
1 78
Krummel Ammo (2)
Undated
1 79
Laacher See (1)
Undated
1 80
Lachen/Speyerdorf (1)
Undated
1 81
Leipzig-Erla (11)
Undated
1 82
Leuna (3)
Undated
1 83
Leverkeusen (3)
Undated
1 84
Lagendleroch (1)
Undated
1 85
Lutzkendorf (7)
Undated
1 86
Magdeburg (3)
Undated
1 87
Memmingen (1)
Undated
1 88
Merseburg (8)
Undated
1 89
Meschede (1)
Undated
1 90
Nurnburg M.A.N. (15)
Undated
1 91
Minden (1)
Undated
1 92
Misburg (1)
Undated
1 93
Munich (13)
Undated
1 94
Munster (6)
Undated
1 95
Munster (Canal) (1)
Undated
5
Negatives
8
Negatives
Folder
1 96
Neumarkt (1)
Undated
1 97
Neuwied (2)
Undated
1 98
Nordhausen (4)
Undated
1 99
Northampton, UK (1)
Undated
1 100
Oldenburg (1)
Undated
1 101
Oschersleben (5)
Undated
1 102
Osnabruck (5)
Undated
1 103
Padernborn (4)
Undated
1 104
Pforzheim (1)
Undated
1 105
Plantlumne (1)
Undated
1 26
Plauen (6)
Undated
1 107
Rastatt (9)
Undated
1 108
Remagen Br (1)
Undated
2 1
Rheine (2)
Undated
2 2
Rheine Bridges (2)
Undated
2 3
Roth (2)
Undated
2 4
Rothenburg (4)
Undated
2 5
Rothensee (4)
Undated
2 6
Rudesheim (1)
Undated
2 7
Saarbrucken (8)
Undated
2 8
Schulan Oil (2)
Undated
2 29
Schaffenburg (2)
Undated
2 9
Siegen (4)
Undated
2 10
Sinzig (2)
Undated
2 11
Sleaford (UK) (1)
Undated
2 12
Soest (2)
Undated
2 13
Spaulding (UK) (1)
Undated
2 14
Speyer (2)
Undated
2 15
Speyer Bridge (1)
Undated
2 16
Stade (1)
Undated
2 17
Stenkrade Oil (5)
Undated
2 18
Trier Bridge (1)
Undated
2 19
Ulm (5)
Undated
2 20
Vegesack (3)
Undated
2 21
Waggum (3)
Undated
2 22
Wenzendorf (3)
Undated
2 23
Wesermunde (4)
Undated
2 24
Wetzlar (3)
Undated
2 25
Wilhelmshaven (14)
Undated
2 26
Wurzburg (7)
Undated
2 27
Zietz (10)
Undated
2 28
Zwischenahn (2)
Undated

2:  Memorabilia from WW II service; pamphlets, publications, photos of various aircraft of the period. Walla Walla Airbase photos and memos, 1941-1945Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
6 45
Pocket Atlas of the World. W. & A.K. Johnston Ltd. London
Undated
6 43
The 8th Sees England. Jack H. Bozurg, ed. and pub.
1946
5
The Story of the U.S. Army Air Force by Jim Ray
1945
Folder
6 44
Target: Germany. The U.S. Army Air Force official story of the 8th Bomber Command's first year over Europe
1944
7 80
Technical Manual. Interpretation of Aerial Photographs. War Dept.
1942 December 31
3
100 Best True Stories of World War II. Wm H. Wise and Co., Inc.
1945
Folder
7 81
The War's Best Photographs. Odhams Press Ltd.
Undated
5
New Testament. Roman Catholic Version (U.S. Army)
1942
Folder
6 44
The Destruction of Germany Through Air Power. Aero Camera and Pub. Co.
Undated
6 44
The Battle of Britain August-October 1940. Ministry of Information on behalf of the Air Ministry
1941
6 45
Prayer Book for Catholic Servicemen. The National Catholic Community Service.
1943
6 45
My Military Missal. Edited by Father Stedman
1941
6 45
A Short Guide to Great Britain. War and Navy Dept.
Undated
6 45
French Phrase Book
1943 September 28
6 45
Of Dirty Stories. By Daniel A. Lord, S.J.
1935
6 45
A Salute to the Men in Service. Daniel A. Lord, S.J.
1942
2 30
If You Should Be Captured These Are Your Rights. War Dept. Pamphlet No. 21-27
1944 May 16
2 31
British Edition of "Yank" Vol. 3, No. 48
1945 May 18
2 32
Norwich Cathedral, by E.C. LeGrice, F.R.P.S.
Undated
2 33
Salvo: Rosewell Army Air Field. V. 4 #13 (22 September 1945), V. 4 #12 (15 September 1945), V. 4 #10 (1 September 1945), V. 4 #9 (25 August 1945), V. 4 #14 (29 September 1945), V. 4 #11 (8 September 1945)
1945 August 25-1945 September 29
2 34
Air Force. The Official Service Journal. Article: Aerial Mapping for Invasion
1945 September
2 35
Walla Walla Eagle Vol. 2 No. 1
1943 June 29
2 36
The Stars and Stripes. London Ed., Vol. 5 No. 158, "Germany Quits."
1945 May 8
2 37
Boston Sunday Advertiser Pictorial Review. Memorial Ed. To F. D. Roosevelt, 1882-1945.
1945 April 15
2 38
Magazine Article on Aerial War Photography
Undated
2 39
Program: Skirts. American Musical Adventure in 15 Scenes
Undated
2 59
Magazine Article: The Fightingest Fortress Suzy-Q, Boeing News
1943 March
2 40
Typed Copy: An English Girl's Lament
Undated
2 41
Issue of Daily Bulletin #448
1945 May 19
2 42
Duffel Bag Content List for W. Gendron
1945 June 22
2 43
Propaganda Material Dropped over Germany
Undated
2 44
Sets of Orders for W.R. Gendron
Undated
2 45
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces, note to "Soldiers, Salutes, & Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces!" Invasion of Europe
1944 June
2 46
Photos of Wycomba Abbey
Undated
2 47
The Honor Legion, by Francis P. Schiavone, 1st pub. 1917
Undated
2 52
Pocket Reference Guide: Army, Navy, Marine Corps Insignia
1943
2 50
Postcard Pocket: 2. Coronation of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth
Undated
2 51
U.S. Army Air Forces Post Cards
Undated
2 48
Stars and Stripes, Vol. 5 No. 15
1944 November 18
2 49
"The Wings of War," National Geographic Vol. 185, No. 3
1994 March
2 53
Map of Germany Highlighting Areas of Bomb Strikes
Undated
2 54
Packet of 6 Photos, War's End in Europe, General Wm. Kepner and Hodges Saying Goodbye to Staff.
1944
2 55
Victorian Memorial in Front of Buckingham Palace
1945 February 2
2 57
"This is the Army," London Photograph of stage show
1944
2 60
5 Photos: Sporting events in England During WWII
Undated
2 56
Photos of Ceremonies Returning Air Base to England after War
Undated
2 61
Photos of unidentified Servicemen
Undated
2 58
Wallace Gendron I.D. cards from Days at WW Airbase & Postcards from Family
Undated
4 1
B-24 Aircraft photos
Undated
4 2
Photos of Aircraft Shot Down
Undated
4 3
Various Photos of European Theatre, Including Some from D-Day and Liberation of Holland
Undated
4 4
Photos of P-47 Fighter Aircraft
Undated
4 5
"Dropping Supplies in Holland"
Undated
4 34
Glider Troops: D-day, France
1944 June 6
4 6
Four Photos of B-17 Aircraft
Undated
4 7
"B-24's on a Mission"
Undated
4 8
Three Photos: B-24 Going Down and Crash in France
Undated
4 9
Two photos of P-38 Aircraft
Undated
4 10
Thirteen Photos of Aircraft in Formation
Undated
4 11
Nine Photos of Jimmy Stewart, Movie Actor
Undated
4 12
Three Photos of Smoke Screen Used by the Germans to Camouflage Targets
Undated
4 13
Two Photos of Incendiary Bombs
Undated
4 14
Six Photos of Vapor Trails
Undated
4 15
Ketteringtor Hall, Headquarter of 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, Norwich, U.K.
Undated
4 16
50th Anniversary Booklet, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Undated
4 17
Photo of P-39 "only fighter plane U.S. had at time of Pearl Harbor"
Undated
4 18
Dorothy Ann
Undated
6 1
WWII Aerial Damage Photos
Undated
6 2
Invasion of Normandy
1944 June 6
6 3
Photo of WWII after the Surrender, Inspection of a German Airdrome for Damage, Photo of Smoking Damage, Aerial Photo of City
Undated
6 4
Photo of Gliders, WWII Damage, Aerial Photo, Airbase Photo
Undated
6 5
Photo of C-47, Distance Plane Photo, Aerial Photo
Undated
6 6
Christmas Photos on Base, Aerial Photo, Plane Take-off
Undated
6 7
Photos of Motor Pool and Drivers, Damage Photos
Undated
6 8
Visit from General "Hap" Arnold, Miscellaneous Aerial Views
Undated
6 9
Photos of Awards Ceremony, Inspection of the MPs, Photo of B-24 and Crew
Undated
6 10
Photo of Tail of AB24, American Troops in Holland Behind Fleeing German Troops, Dropping Supplies
Undated
6 11
Photos of Damage after the Surrender WWII, Miscellaneous Damage Photos
Undated
6 12
Ball Bearing Plant in Germany, Taxi to the Runway for a Trip over Germany
Undated
6 13
German V-2 Rockets, Bomb Centers in England
Undated
6 14
80th Bomb Division, 317 Bomb Squad, W.W. Army Air Base, Boardman Bombing Range, Practice Bombing
1942
6 15
Walla Walla Army Air Base, Combat Crew #440
Undated
6 16
Army Air Base Photos
Undated
6 17
Walla Walla Air Base, B-25 Mitchell, Accompanying Letter from Alfred McVay to Sergeant W. M. Mack
1943
6 18
B-17 Crash on Blue Mountains
Undated
6 19
Base Photo Section Building and Crew
Undated
6 20
Walla Walla Photographers and Photos in Blue Mountains
Undated
6 21
George Montgomery (Actor) and His Mother in front of C-47, Walla Walla
1943
6 22
Ann Southern (Actress) at McCaw Hospital, Walla Walla
1943
6 23
Walla Walla Baseball Game and Accompanying Newspaper Clips
1943 June
6 24
Aircraft Insignia
Undated
6 25
Walla Walla at Retreat, Wallace Gendron in Publicity Shot with Two Women and One Sailor, with Accompanying Letter
1943
6 26
Walla Walla Air Base, Newspaper Articles, 1943, 1991, 1992
Various dates
6 27
General Peck, Commanding Officer of Walla Walla Air Base
1943
6 28
James Cagney in Walla Walla
Undated
6 29
Walla Walla Base Chapel
Undated
6 30
Trainer, Walla Walla Air Base
Undated
6 31
Walla Walla Retreat, Ten Photos
Undated
6 32
Walla Walla Mill Creek Picnic
Undated
6 33
B-17 and Crew, Walla Walla
Undated
6 34
Walla Walla Aircrafts
Undated
6 35
Walla Walla USO Dance, Five Photos
Undated
6 36
Walla Walla Sign Regarding Hitler
Undated
6 37
Walla Walla Exploding Bomb
1943 April 26
6 38
Awarding of Purple Heart, Walla Walla
Undated
6 39
Firing Range, Mill Creek
Circa 1940
6 40
Suzy-Q, Airplane at Walla Walla, with Boeing News Article
1943 March 24
7 1
England: Volleyball, One-man Suli, Norwich, Tea Time, King's College, John Touchette
Undated
7 2
Lyons Property, Mill Creek
Undated
7 3
Wally Gendron, Sergeant Phil Lipmon, and unidentified soldier
Undated
7 4
State Capitol of Colorado
Undated
7 5
Performance and Dance for the Army
Undated
7 6
"The Circular Spectrum"
Undated
7 7
Bomber Formation on Its Way to Target in Germany
Undated
7 8
Norwich Castle
1943 December 22
7 9
English Showgirls Sitting on the Wing of a P-51
Undated
7 10
Second Air Division Office Personnel (3 Photos)
Undated
7 11
Buckingham Palace, England
Undated
7 12
Inspection at a Bomber Group Base
Undated
7 13
Photo Crew, Second Air Division, "Two Years Together," England
Undated
7 14
English Boy Adopted as the Mascot of the Second Air Division
Undated
7 15
General Kepner Honoring a Local Dame, with the Second Air Division Choir
Undated
7 16
Oil Refinery in Germany
Undated
7 17
Airplane Crash
Undated
7 18
St. Paul Cathedral
Undated
7 19
Aerial Photo Showing Damage to France
1944 January 14
7 20
D-Day: Gliders Towed into France to Cut off German Supplies to Normandy
Undated
7 21
German Air Field
Undated
7 22
Photo Reconnaissance after Mission
1944 March
7 23
General Hodges with Staff
Undated
7 24
Portrait Photos of Major Edwin Reid and General Jimmie Doolittle
Undated
7 25
Tea Time Truck, England (with negative)
Undated
7 26
B-24 Shot Down Over Hamburg, Germany (3 Photos)
Undated
7 27
Preparing a New Assignment
Undated
7 28
Gotha, Germany, Home of the Leica Camera Factory
Undated
7 29
German Air Field, France
Undated
7 30
Oil Field and Refinery in Ploiesti, Romania
Undated
7 31
Bombing Berlin
Undated
7 32
German Fighter Squadron Field Near the Coast
Undated
7 33
B-24 Shot Down in France (3 Photos)
Undated
7 34
Aerial Photograph of Damages to Hermmigstedt, Karlsruhe, Nordhausen, and Other Unidentified Cities
Undated
7 35
At the Race Tracks
Undated
7 36
Party for "Beaver Bill"
Undated
7 37
Officer at Lowry Air Base, Denver Colorado
1942
7 38
Walla Walla Airbase Church
1943
7 39
Orphans, England
1941
7 40
Aerial Photographs of Damages to Ploiesti, Romania (19 Photos)
Undated
7 41
Soldiers Marching Through the Streets of England
Undated
7 42
Soldiers Receiving Medals at Decoration Ceremony
Undated
7 43
Officers Receiving Medals at Base
Undated
7 44
Major Cassidy, Captain Florence, and 5 Unidentified Officers
Undated
7 45
Totem Pole
Undated
7 46
1942 Penna Ford
Undated
7 47
Armament Laboratory, Wooden Door
Undated
7 48
Western Flight Training Commander's Twins, Roswell N. M. Air Base
1946
7 49
A Soldier's Wedding
Undated
7 50
Photographs of Paintings
Undated
7 51
Abandoned Pottery Shop
Undated
7 52
Schawillie and Redmand Leading Their Cameras
1943 April 5
7 53
Franklyn Stokes, New Haven, Connecticut
Undated
7 54
Stock Yards, Horshem, England
Undated
7 55
P. 39 Bell Air Cobra, Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado
Undated
7 56
Typical Payday at the Second Air Division
Undated
7 57
Tea Time, England
Undated
7 58
Lt. McCormick from Colorado Springs
Undated
7 59
Taking Time Off to Help a Local Farmer
1944
7 60
Press Box, Football Game, England
Undated
7 61
"The Boys in the Photo Lab" and Major, Head of the Photo Lab
Undated
7 62
England: Max Melcher, Christmas Time at the Local Orphanage, Taking the Orphan Kids on an Outing, London
Undated
7 63
England: Honor Guard, General Doolittle on a Visit, English WACs
Undated
7 64
Neighborhood Damaged by War, Belgium
Undated
7 65
A G.I. Wedding in England
Undated
7 66
Captain Hawkins Inspecting an Underground Storage Unit After a Raid, France
Undated
7 67
Inspection at Kettringham Hall
1943
7 68
B-77 Model, with Explanation and Description
Undated
7 69
Ketteringham Hall Floor Plan
Undated
7 70
England: St. Theresa's Church, Norwich, London, Flixton Estate, King's College, etc.
1943
7 71
Mt. Rushmore National Memorial
Undated
7 72
Johnny Touchett and Wallace Gendron, Base Photo
Undated
7 73
Blue Mountains, Walla Walla
1943
7 74
"Coming Home," Black Forest, Germany
Undated
7 75
Combat Crew #109, Walla Walla Army Air Force
1945 March 14
7 76
Walla Walla Air Base
1943 April 7
7 77
Interior of Kitchen in the Mess Hall
Undated
7 78
Air Force Insignia
Undated
7 79
Upper Mill Creek
Undated

3:  Unidentified Photographs; Gendron's Magazines, Postcards, Identifications, and Ephemera, 1942-1976Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 19
Unidentified Photos of Officers
Undated
4 20
Unidentified Photos of Officers (continued)
Undated
4 21
Unidentified Scenery Photos
Undated
4 22
Unidentified Scenery Photos (continued)
Undated
4 23
Unidentified Photos of a Party
Undated
4 24
Unidentified Aerial Photos
Undated
4 25
Unidentified Negatives
Undated
4 26
Postcards: Westminster Abbey: The Unknown Warrior Grave, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Abbey: King Henry VII's Chapel, Westminster Abbey: Wolfe Monument, Bridge Hotel at Potter Heigham, "So We'll Meet Again"
Undated
4 27
American Flag Band
Undated
4 28
History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 1
1973
4 29
History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 2
1973
4 30
History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 3
1973
4 31
History of the Second World War, Published by Marshall Cavendish, Part 4
1973
4 32
World War II: The 8th AF Strikes
1975 January
4 33
Target Germany: A Marshall Cavendish World War II Special No. 4
1976
6 41
Gendron's Identifications: Motor Vehicle Operator's Permit, Tobacco Ration Card, Restricted Area Pass, Bondholder Certificate, Permanent Pass Class A, Mammoth Garden Roller Skating Club Membership Card, Disabled American Veterans
1943-1949
6 42
Miniature Postcards Re: Walla Walla
1942

4:  Army Air Base Records, Walla Walla, WA, 1941-1944Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
5
Army Air Base File #000-800
1941-1942
3
Army Air Base File #600 Misc.
1943-1944

5:  Oversize Maps and Photographs, 1941-1944Return to Top

Container(s): Folder MC.2.5

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • United States. Army Air Forces. Air Division, 2nd